I have a friend that I shoot with, mostly milsurp rifles, and he is wanting to get into reloading. He wants only to load for a .357 Taurus he owns but like me, half his brass is .38's. I suggest several different press packages but he is most impressed by two Lee Loaders I have, one in .30/30 and the other in .303. Does anyone know if the .38 model can be used to load .357 cases or vice versa. I also suggested that in addition to the loader, he needs at bare minimum a good reloading manual and a scale. I tried to explain that if he likes reloading he will expand into a press and dies eventually but at worst, I'll probably buy the loader off him! Thanks for the help!

Mikhail... I'm pretty well versed in the Lee Loaders but haven't used either of these calibers. Both of these kits are still catalog items at Lee and the calibers show different catalog numbers: 38 Spl is #90257 and the 357 is #90258. May be the difference in the kit and numbers is something as simple as a different Charge Table. I suspect that the two kits would carry the same number if they were interchangable. I have a catalog from the 70's for the old kits in the large cardboard box and that shows separate numbers. A simple call to Lee would provide the quickest answer...262-673-3075.

Here is a kit on eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=31825&item=3674714807&rd=1) that the seller says is for either. I would rather take Lee's word for it.

One of the simple pleasures of using these kits is that you don't need a manual or scale. Use the instructions, charge table and dipper or move on to a press.

Thanks for the answer, Ranch Dog. I took you advise and emailed Lee. They replied that, like dies, the .38 will load both but the .357 only handles that round. Thanks again!

Thanks for the answer, Ranch Dog. I took you advise and emailed Lee. They replied that, like dies, the .38 will load both but the .357 only handles that round. Thanks again!

You already have your answer, but check out this sight to save a few bucks on Lee equipment.

http://www.factorysales.com/company.html


"Good Shooting"

Terry...

Thanks for the lead... Prices are great and the discount is applied to the spare parts as well. I see they charge $8.95 fixed shipping so it is easy to compare the discount to the fixed shipping of $4 Lee charges. I needed a couple of things... so I can see how it works out.

Michael